I've decided to upgrade my cruncher over the next couple of months. At the moment I have an AMD Athlon 2x 4600+ which is struggling to complete some of the bigger WU from SETI, CERN and others.
I always tended to buy AMD kit but they really do look to be a good bit behind intel at the moment so would be looking to build an i7 system using a 2011 socket CPU.
I Have a GeForce GTx 650 ti and might add a second card down the line.
I'm trying to work out whether a 4 core Like the 3820 would be more than ample power for my needs or should I wait to pick up a 6 core CPU like a 3930. My system isn't churning 24/7 hence why I struggle to finish some WUs. Lol

I always tended to buy AMD kit but they really do look to be a good bit behind intel at the moment so would be looking to build an i7 system using a 2011 socket CPU.

The only thing the Socket 2011 platform gives you is tremendous memory bandwidth (quad-channel). If you are not memory-bandwidth constrained, you might want to consider a Socket 1150 for the latest 4th generation Core iN architecture.

I'm trying to work out whether a 4 core Like the 3820 would be more than ample power for my needs or should I wait to pick up a 6 core CPU like a 3930. My system isn't churning 24/7 hence why I struggle to finish some WUs. Lol

If you're struggling to complete work due to lack of uptime, having two extra cores will not help achieve deadlines better. It will simply give you more work to do to fulfill all cores.

It is also important to note that the 3xxx series Socket 2011 chips are not actually third-generation Core i7s (Ivy Bridge), but rather a modified second-generation (Sandy Bridge-E).

You would likely do yourself a favor and go with the current 4th generation Core i5 or i7 using the Socket 1150 platform and getting a motherboard with 2 PCIe x16 slots.

I would ask you, what are your "needs"? I'm running an i7-3820 with HT on, and the 8 threads seem happy. The 6-core 3930 would (I assume it is HT) run 12 threads. What is the relative cost of the 2 CPUs? Does it matter to you?
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If you are concerned about completion times. Then the quad core with the higher clock rate would probably be the better way to go.

The Ivy Bridge-E chips are suppose to be released in September. Which will use the same 2011 socket as the Sandy Bridge-E you are checking out now.
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I don't use anything that is memory intensive. My thinking behind buying socket 2011 was that it a more likely upgrade path down the line..
Does ivy bridge e look like a better option when it comes around?

I've had 2 cores for long enough so an so 8 or 12 is huge difference.. Just trying to maximise my SETI rig whilst I have some spare cash.

An extra 4 cores in ht at the speed of an i7 might just be worth it
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More Cores isn't going to solve your issues, although any modern CPU will get through SETI work as long as it's running for maybe an hour a day? So any new CPU is going to work better than what you have now.

Heck even an I3 with HT turned off will run two tasks as well, or possibly faster, than an I5 or I7. Just the higher spec chips will run more tasks concurrently.

It seems a bit excessive to spend hundreds of $$ on a high end CPU, that's only going to run for a few hours a day? Unless you have other needs for the computing power.

In that case a cheapo CPU and a better graphics card will give you more bang for the buck anyway.

A 6 core I7 will be just as obsolete in 5 years as a 2 core I3 that only cost you 25% of the $$.

I play about with my website so have adobe CS3.. So some graphics work and more and likely video editing down the line.. Apart from that I intend to play the odd game like assassins creed. But I'm not a big gamer.

Either 1 will just blow your old rig away, but other than the later having a better video core there really isn't all that much performance wise between them though there are savings to be had again going with the 1st.

Personally I am looking at replacing my C2D E8400 with an i5-4670. In comparing the choices the extra $100 isn't worth it to me for HT, +2MB of cache, & +100MHz on the 4770K. I feel like the 4670 is a better "bang for the buck".
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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hoursJoin the BP6/VP6 User Group today!

Personally I am looking at replacing my C2D E8400 with an i5-4670. In comparing the choices the extra $100 isn't worth it to me for HT, +2MB of cache, & +100MHz on the 4770K. I feel like the 4670 is a better "bang for the buck".

I am looking at the 4430, just as much bang for the buck and I really only need it to drive the video cards and play games.
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Personally I am looking at replacing my C2D E8400 with an i5-4670. In comparing the choices the extra $100 isn't worth it to me for HT, +2MB of cache, & +100MHz on the 4770K. I feel like the 4670 is a better "bang for the buck".

I am looking at the 4430, just as much bang for the buck and I really only need it to drive the video cards and play games.

I had the 4430, 4570, & 4670 in my sights at first, but the 4570 is only $5 more in the shops. With the 4670 $25 over the 4570 it is a tougher choice. Honestly they are all good choices.
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SETI@home classic workunits: 93,865 CPU time: 863,447 hoursJoin the BP6/VP6 User Group today!

If you are concerned about completion times. Then the quad core with the higher clock rate would probably be the better way to go.

The Ivy Bridge-E chips are suppose to be released in September. Which will use the same 2011 socket as the Sandy Bridge-E you are checking out now.

That means a new X99 motherboard and DDR4 memory, since Intel said the new cpus won't work on older x79 motherboards, should be interesting what the motherboard designers decide what to do though. Also from Ivy Bridge up Intel has been using cheap heatsink compound in between the IHS and the cpu die instead of solder like in Sandy Bridge and before, so the cpus run hotter as a result, this can be fixed, but the fix is up on youtube and requires a box knife and steady hands, plus better heatsink compound. Oh and this fix voids the cpu warranty.
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